#60sfilms — Public Fediverse posts

My early fandoms: Vincent Price / Roger Corman films https://vivdunstan.dreamwidth.org/531622.html #Films #Movies #Cinema #VincentPrice #RogerCorman #EdgarAllanPoe #HorrorMovies #HorrorFilms #Horror #1960s #60s #60sFilms #60sMovies #1960sFilms #1960sMovies #Fandom #Monsterdon

A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS (’66): One of the forgotten Best Picture winners, this chronicle of Thomas More’s falling out with Henry VIII over that little matter of his divorce and taking over the Church is often labeled boring. I didn’t find it so, though Best Pic winner is a head-scratcher. Scofield is terrific as More, his Best Actor win no mystery. The inquisition scene and the final “trial” are both great showcases for his talent, and leave you with great admiration for More’s courage. #60sfilms

LA GUERRE EST FINIE (’66): Fascinating, thought-provoking piece, following a resistance spy during Franco’s reign in Spain, who’s been at it for decades and still at it even though… well, check the title. It plays out like the unpeeling of an onion, with layers revealing multiple relationships, personalities, complexities of his “job”, ultimately leaving us at a generational crossroads. Sadly, this feels more prescient by the day. Only knock: a bit too long. But still quite excellent. #60sfilms

YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW (’63): “Comedy anthology” re-pairing director DeSica and star Sophia Loren. A good demo of Loren’s deep talent, as she plays three very different women with very different relationship woes. Middle story the weakest, the bookends both quite good. Think I liked first story the best- certainly the funniest. Loren is such a dynamic presence, a walking firecracker, it’s amazing how she runs over a talent like Mastroianni here, three times! #60sfilms #italianfilms

TALES OF TERROR (’62): Another in the Corman/Poe collabs, this an anthology of three Poe tales, all featuring our king of macabre Vincent Price. They’re all pretty good, but the middle story with perpetually drunken Peter Lorre seeking revenge on cheating wife and her lover Price. The wine tasting scene is a hoot, especially Price’s over the top reactions. And it’s got the usual colorful sets and costuming from these, another plus. Fun stuff. #horror #60sfilms

THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM (’61): Always kick myself when I dive into a new Criterion Channel series in the month before it ends, find myself loving it, and now need to madly scramble to fit all the other entries in. C’est la vie. My first Corman/Poe mash-up, and such a great place to start. Vincent Price, shocking to learn, was pretty darn good in horror. I loved the colors, the atmosphere, the slow build to that crazy pendulum finale. And that last shot! 💯💯 #horror #60sfilms

WHEN A WOMAN ASCENDS THE STAIRS (’60): This is something very special indeed. Not to overuse the word but Mikio Naruse was a special director (and a favorite of mine), and he had that knack for just this sort of picture about women, desperately trapped in the seemier side of a man’s world, hoping for escape but finding it thwarted at each turn. Hideko Takamine turns in a magnificently heartbreaking performance, so much of her suffering told in micro-expressions. #japanesefilm #60sfilms

THE GRADUATE (’67): Coming to such a famous film as this after all this time, it feels familiar since so much of it has been aped and parodied in the decades since. (And I now finally get all those jokes about my childhood best friend’s mom, Mrs. Robinson.) Hoffman’s neurotic, aimless college grad cracked me up. (Still not sure why the Robinson daughter fell for him though.) Bancroft, an iconic soundtrack, beautiful photography… many things to still recommend this after so many years. #60sfilms

SPLENDOR IN THE GRASS (’61): My interest in this primarily personal, as for decades I’ve listened to my mother explain how her father refused to let her see this when it came out. Too risqué! For then I’m sure it was, though sexual angles seem tame relative to more head-on confrontation with mental illness. First half was honestly weird and strangely constructed. Better in back half, Natalie Wood’s performance a standout. #classichollywood #oldhollywood #60sfilms